Architect Tasmania
Tasmania has a distinctive architectural character, shaped by its landscape, climate, history and building traditions. From Georgian townhouses and sandstone churches to rural homesteads, timber cottages and contemporary houses, the island offers an unusually rich architectural inheritance.
Jiri Lev Architects is a Tasmanian architectural practice providing residential, commercial, heritage and civic architectural services throughout the state, including Hobart, Launceston, Devonport, Burnie and regional Tasmania.
Our approach combines traditional architectural principles with contemporary needs, materials and construction techniques. We believe buildings should be beautiful, practical, economical and enduring, contributing positively to the places in which they stand.
Residential Architects in Tasmania
We design new houses, country homes, renovations and extensions throughout Tasmania. Our residential architecture ranges from modest cottages and affordable family houses to larger rural homesteads and individual residences.
Good house design begins with an understanding of how people live. The arrangement of rooms, natural light, privacy, views, circulation and connections to outdoor spaces are often more important than the overall size of a building.
We favour clear, efficient floor plans, well-proportioned rooms and straightforward construction. A thoughtfully designed small house can provide greater comfort and architectural quality than a considerably larger, more complicated building.
As a residential architect in Tasmania, our aim is to create homes which are appropriate to their surroundings, pleasant to inhabit and capable of remaining useful for generations.
Our architectural portfolio includes Tasmanian houses, cottages, rural residences, heritage additions and accommodation projects.
Rural Houses and Country Architecture
Tasmania’s rural landscapes offer remarkable opportunities for architecture. The agricultural valleys of the north, rolling Midlands, north-west coast, forested mountains and southern countryside each have their own climatic and architectural conditions.
A successful rural house should belong naturally to its setting.
We draw inspiration from Tasmania’s traditional farmhouses, cottages, barns and agricultural buildings, many of which demonstrate an admirable economy of construction and simplicity of form.
Strong roofs, well-considered openings, sheltered verandahs, durable materials and straightforward plans remain as useful today as when these buildings were first constructed.
Rural architectural design also requires careful attention to landform, access, orientation, bushfire exposure, services and construction costs.
Whether designing a modest country cottage or a substantial family homestead, we seek an appropriate relationship between the building, surrounding landscape and practical requirements of rural life.
Traditional and Classical Architecture
Our practice has a particular interest in traditional, classical and vernacular architecture.
Tasmania contains some of Australia’s finest surviving examples of Georgian architecture, particularly in towns such as Richmond, Ross, Evandale, Oatlands and Bothwell.
These buildings demonstrate that architectural beauty need not depend upon expensive materials or elaborate decoration.
Proportion, rhythm, carefully arranged windows, clear entrances and simple roof forms can create buildings of considerable dignity.
We regard traditional architecture as a continuing body of knowledge rather than a collection of historical styles to imitate.
Our architectural practice applies these principles to new buildings, accommodating contemporary expectations for comfort, energy efficiency and practicality without unnecessarily abandoning the architectural traditions of their surroundings.
Heritage Architecture and Renovations
Tasmania’s historic buildings form an important part of the island’s identity.
We provide architectural services for heritage restoration, renovations, alterations, extensions and adaptive reuse, working with both listed heritage properties and older buildings of local architectural significance.
The first task in working with an existing building is understanding what makes it valuable.
Original materials, craftsmanship, proportions, roof forms, windows and internal arrangements often contribute considerably to a building’s character.
New work should respect these qualities while accommodating contemporary living requirements.
An addition need not necessarily reproduce the original architecture, nor must it contrast dramatically with it. The appropriate approach depends upon the particular building and circumstances.
Our heritage architect Tasmania page discusses our approach to the conservation, restoration and adaptation of historic buildings in greater detail.
Affordable and Sustainable House Design
We believe good architecture should be accessible to people with ordinary construction budgets.
Careful planning, economical building forms, sensible structural arrangements and the appropriate selection of materials can make a substantial difference to construction costs.
Complicated roofs, unnecessary floor area, excessive earthworks and difficult construction details can increase expenditure without delivering corresponding benefits.
Environmental performance is equally important.
Tasmania’s cool climate makes solar orientation, insulation, airtightness, glazing and ventilation particularly significant. These considerations should form part of the initial architectural design, rather than being treated as additions later.
We also place considerable emphasis on durability and repairability. Buildings which remain useful and valued for generations offer important environmental advantages.
Our Tasmanian house plans demonstrate how traditional architectural principles can be applied to modest, economical homes. Both free plans and architect-issued construction drawing packages are available.
Commercial, Civic and Community Architecture
Beyond residential work, Jiri Lev Architects undertakes commercial, community, institutional and civic projects, together with urban design and masterplanning.
Our approach is informed by the relationship between architecture and public space.
Buildings should contribute positively to their streets, neighbourhoods and landscapes. Entrances should be understandable, public spaces welcoming and architectural forms appropriate to their surroundings.
We are particularly interested in projects that strengthen the identity of regional towns and communities.
Our portfolio includes community facilities, heritage adaptive reuse, churches, public spaces, accommodation developments and proposals for larger civic and mixed-use buildings.
Architectural Design and Planning Services
Engaging an architect early can help establish whether a proposed project is practical, affordable and appropriate to its site.
We provide architectural services from initial feasibility and concept design through to planning applications, consultant coordination, construction documentation and construction-stage assistance.
Tasmanian projects may involve planning requirements relating to heritage, bushfire hazards, landslip, wastewater disposal, access and environmental constraints.
Understanding these matters before developing a detailed design can help avoid unnecessary expense and redesign.
Our practice is led by Jiri Lev, a registered architect in Tasmania (Registration No. 1269), who remains personally involved in architectural commissions.
We work with engineers, surveyors, building professionals and specialist consultants according to the needs of each project.
Architects Serving All of Tasmania
Jiri Lev Architects provides architectural services throughout Tasmania, including:
- Hobart, Greater Hobart and southern Tasmania
- Launceston, Tamar Valley and northern Tasmania
- Devonport, Burnie and the north-west coast
- Deloraine, Meander Valley and the Central Highlands
- The Midlands, East Coast, Huon Valley and West Coast
We welcome enquiries from homeowners, rural property owners, developers, businesses and community organisations.
If you are looking for an architect in Tasmania with a particular interest in traditional architecture, practical design and buildings of lasting value, we would be pleased to discuss your project.
Please contact Jiri Lev Architects to arrange an initial discussion.